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Tefillin Insights

Written by Jordan Jay

Some interesting insights on tefillin: Why is there a knot at the back of the shel rosh? Moshe asked Hashem the time-aged question of ‘why bad things happen to good people’. The Midrash recounts how Hashem showed Moshe the knot in the back of His own tefillin [yes Hashem wears His own tefillin]. Why the knot of all answers to the BIG question? When we understand that the black box symbolises creation’s purpose, the two straps coming down represent the two ways Hashem can interact with us – Din (strict judgement) or Rachamim (mercy). The knot (NB at the back of the head) that they both lead to represents the Unity…

The Ultimate Truth that will be revealed, at which point man will understand why everything had to happen, how it did, and how it all benefited creation. The shel rosh has two straps coming down. These represent the flow of history, emanating from the box (creation). They teach us that even at the lowest times in human history, the purpose of Hashem is always the same, to do good for creation. The shel yad has one long strap that we wrap around the arm seven times. This also represents the long twists of history that also flow from the Source – Hashem’s desire to do good. When we wrap our strap around the finger reciting “I will betroth you to me forever” Hashem says “and so too will the Jews be betrothed to me forever”. The fact that it is the Name ‘Shakkai’ that is on both tefillin and mezuza is because this Name corresponds to His active part in creation – the laws of Nature (capital N) – the attribute of Hashem that the avos knew. They did not know Akonai. May the mitzvah of tefillin be forever enlightening for people, and may we all be blessed with chachma to realise Hashem’s Plans for us as best as He allows us to.

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